Land grader



Oct. I H. LEPPERT LAND GRADER Filed May 23, 19-38 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 14' VIA/T OR ATTORNEY H. J. LEPPERT Oct. 17, 1939.

LAND GRADEB Filed May 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ma N

I VE/VTOR ATTaRn/E/ Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

Machines for grading land are subjected to hard and rough usage, yet it is imperative that they be so constructed as to permit a reasonable amount of adjustment and have some degree of flexibility. Furthermore, it is highly desirable that the adjustments may be made either from the tractor to which the machine is attached or by an operator on the machine itself to meet varying conditions under which the machine may be operated. Again, it is highly desirable that the mechanism for effecting the required adjustments be so constructed and arranged that its action will be positive and under perfect control at all times, and without undue play or friction.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a machine of the character indicated wherein the required adjustment of the grader blade may be effected by power means controlled from the tractor, or by manually operated means controlled by an operator riding on the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated wherein the adjusting means is so constructed and arranged that there will be no looseness or play between the respective parts thereof, and consequently its action will be positive and without material wear.

Finally, it is an object to provide a machine of the character indicated that will be economical to manufacture, strong and durable, and highly efiicient in its practical application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the same, with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of a portion of the adjusting means.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein disclosed I show at 1 the horizontal side bars of the main frame, and at 2 the depending rear legs carrying axle 3 with wheels 4. These bars I converge forwardly and have their front ends angularly disposed as at 5 to carry center block 6. The draw-bar 1 is pivotally connected as at 8 to front axle 9 which is fitted with wheels it and pivotally mounted on the frame as at II. A rear platform I2 is mounted upon the bottom of legs 2 and supported by means of braces l3.

The grader scoop comprises a rear wall member l4 forming a mold board and having sides as 55 mounted thereon and secured against spreading by means of braces as I6. Mounted upon the lower edge of the mold board and extending from end to end thereof is the grader blade I1. 7

On the forward end of frame I adjacent its angular portion 5 and disposed crosswise thereof, is a bar [8, with its ends in the planes of legs 2.

Since the following described adjusting mechanism is duplicated at each end of the bar, but one such mechanism will be described in detail, the other being indicated by similar numerals followed by the letter a.

Seated in the end of bar I8 is a pin l9 upon which is fulcrumed a lever 20. The lever 20 is built up of two parallel bars as 2l22 spaced as shown throughout the major portion of their lengths but converging at a point adjacent the fulcrum as at 23.

At 24 is shown a bell-crank pivotally mounted as at 25 between the bars 2I--22 at a point spaced back a little way from the rear end of the lever which extends to the rear end of the machine. One arm of the bell-crank, as 26, is mounted upon and carries the grader scoop, while the other arm, 27, overhangs the scoop as shown. At 28 is shown a strap mounted upon and encircling the lever 26 and fitted with an adjusting screw 29 bearing against the under side of arm 21 whereby the working angle of blade I! may be adjusted about pivot 25.

To properly support the scoop in its adjusted position relative to the lever I provide a brace as 30, pivotally mounted on lever 20 as at 3|, and connected to the arm 26 of bell-crank 24 by means of a pin 32. Provision is made as at 3311 to change the position of the pin 32 when the scoop is adjusted as above described.

To adjust the lever 20 about its fulcrum I9 I provide a link 33 pivotally attached to the rear end of the lever as at 34, and pivotally connected as at 35 to an arm 36 on a shaft 31. The shaft 31 is mounted in bearings as 38 on frame I and is disposed crosswise thereof. It is obvious that by means of this construction the lever 20 may be positively moved upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the scoop as desired.

The rotation of the shaft to effect the above described adjustment of the lever is accomplished as follows, either by power means or manually operated means.

In the present instance the power means comprises a cylinder 39 pivotally mounted on the frame I through the medium of crossbar 40,

bracket 4| and pin 42. The cylinder forms a part of a double acting hydraulic jack in which the piston is pivotally connected as at 43 to an arm 44 on shaft 31. The movement of the piston 45 is controlled in either direction by fluid under pressure from a conveniently located pump, indicated diagrammatically at 46.

The manually operated means comprises a sector gear 4? on shaft 3 which meshes with a pinion 48 on shaft 49. The shaft 49 is mounted in bearing 50 on frame I and is provided with a hand-wheel 5!. At 52 is shown a yoke removably mounted on the shaft 49 between the bearing 5!] and pinion 48. When the adjustments are to be effected manually by operation of the wheel 51 the yoke 52 is in the position shown, but when the adjustments are to be eifected by some power means such as described, then the yoke 52 is removed and the pinion pulled out of mesh with the sector gear 41.

By means of the construction described the field of usefulness is greatly enlarged, and adjustments can be quickly and easily made to meet any condition encountered.

It is obvious, of course, that when the manually operatecl means 485l is in use the hydraulic means is adjusted to permit flow of the fluid therein,'or it may be disconnected from the arm 44.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in form, construction; and method of assembly and operation may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim l-. A land gradingmachine comprising, a supporting frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame at one end, a link pivotally connected to the lever at its other end, a rotatable shaft mounted on the frame and provided with an arm pivotally connected to the link, a bell-crank pivoted on the lever adjacent said link, a grader blade mounted on one arm of the bell-crank, and an adjusting device inserted between the lever and the other arm of the bell-crank for effecting angular adjustment of the blade about the pivotal mounting of the bell-crank.

2. A land grading machine comprising, a supporting frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame at one end, instrumentalities constructed and arranged to effect pivotal adjustment of the lever, a bell-crank pivoted on the lever at its other end, a grader blade mounted on one arm of the bell-crank, and an adjusting device inserted between the lever and the other arm of the bellcrank for effecting angular adjustment of the blade about the pivotal mounting of the bellcrank.

HENRY J. LEPPERT. 

